Uber Whores Out Kittens for National Cat Day

There’s a fine line between marketing genius and total absurdity. And Uber is riding it today with a promotion that offers 15 minutes of kitten cuddling (plus cupcakes) in honor of National Cat Day.

Source: Cheezburger.com

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According to a promotional e-mail that hit e-mail inboxes in Seattle, San Francisco and New York this morning, Uber, one of the ride-sharing outfits that’s taking major cities across America by storm, is offering to shuttle kittens to your home or office for the low, low price of $20. In a partnership with Cheezburger.com, along with the 15 minutes of “on-demand snuggles,” the kittens will be accompanied by cupcakes from Ace of Cakes. According to Uber, all the money raised will be donated to local animal shelters.

Per the promotional e-mail, here’s how it works:

1. Download the Uber app for iPhone or Android

2. Between 11am – 4pm today, request the “KITTENS!” option

3. If the furry friends are available, you and your buds will be enjoying 15 minutes of snuggles and cupcakes made by the famous Ace of Cakes, Duff Goldman and his team at Charm City Bakery.

The e-mail notes that “Demand for kittens will be very high and availability very limited,” and also “It may take multiple tries to find available kittens. Please be patient!” However, Uber promises that “We’ll be working all day to deliver as many kitten snuggles as possible.”

So, Seattle, what’s your take on Uber’s National Cat Day kitten-whoring promotion? Reactions in the Seattle Weekly newsroom have varied from “That’s gross,” to managing editor Dan Person’s very serious, “I’m allergic to cats.”

Still, the fact remains that it’s National Cat Day, and now we know. Without Uber and Cheezburger whoring out underage cats, we may never have realized the significance of Oct. 29. Says Cheezburger: “The collaboration will help to generate awareness for cat adoption through special kitten visits in New York, San Francisco and Seattle. One hundred percent of the proceeds earned from the kitten visits will go directly to the participating shelters.”